Dubbed “project 145”, this ramp-up will bring in a fourth rail dump station along with additional track infrastructure and associated upgrades to existing bucket-wheel reclaimer machines and ship-loading facilities.

PWCS is also finalising a $670 million expansion program to lift the capacity of its two terminals from the current level of 113Mtpa to 133Mtpa later this year.

The T4 project, the fourth terminal for the port after Newcastle Coal Infrastructure Group’s namesake terminal was completed last year, could add another 100Mtpa to PWCS’s capacity after project 145 is finished.

“It is important that PWCS continues to expand to meet industry demand, in alignment with the Hunter Valley’s long-term coal export plan that was agreed by the entire industry and authorised by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission,” PWCS general manager Graham Davidson said.

“As per the industry agreement, we are confident that this latest expansion and the subsequent delivery of T4 will comfortably cater for the Hunter Valley’s long-term coal-loading requirements.”

PWCS said the prefeasibility and planning work on T4 was well advanced.

The project was at the early “director general's requirements issued” phase of the Part 3A process of the New South Wales planning assessment laws before the recent state election.

But the new O’Farrell government has scrapped Part 3A and has not yet announced the specific transitional arrangements to cope with this move.

“Given the demand to export coal from Newcastle, it is essential that PWCS continues to work closely with the New South Wales and Commonwealth governments to ensure a smooth planning process and the timeliest delivery of T4,” Davidson said.